Kalanchoe plant named &#39;KJ 2003 0747&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata  interspecific hybrid plant named ‘KJ 2003 0747’ characterized by a large number of petals per flower resulting in the double-type or multi-petalled trait; large size of petals resulting in large flowers; hastate and dissected leaves on young as well as mature leaves; different yellow and soft white colors of the petals; and large number of flowers per plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant:

K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata interspecific hybrid

Variety denomination:

‘KJ 2003 0747’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata interspecific hybrid, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘KJ 2003 0747’. As used herein, “interspecific hybrid” includes the progeny from the cross of two different species of Kalanchoe, as well as, the progeny resulting from subsequent backcrossing to one of the parents.

The genus of Kalanchoe belongs to the sedum family (Crassulaceae). There are more than 100 different species of Kalanchoe, of which more than 60 are found growing wild on Madagascar, many in South Africa and a few in Asia and South America. Kalanchoe belongs to the succulent plants, which are characterized by having turgid leaves. The leaves enable them to stand drought in nature or on the windowsill for a longer time than most other plants, and this allows for a supreme longevity.

The new Kalanchoe cultivar is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventors, Knud Jepsen and Ellen Christensen, in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Kalanchoe cultivars with large flowers, numerous petals per flower, attractive flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Hinnerup, Denmark. The female parent is a proprietary selection of K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata interspecific hybrid designated ‘KJ 2000 0716’ having single-type flowers with 4 petals per flower. The female parent is described in pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/654,571 and in European Union Community Variety Rights application serial No. 2003/0974, and is the second generation progeny of a fertile interspecific hybrid between K. blossfeldiana and K. laciniata. The male parent, designated K. blossfeldiana cultivar ‘Monroe’, is described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,714, and has the multi-petalled double-type flower characteristic. The new cultivar ‘KJ 2003 0747’ was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment at in Hinnerup, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative terminal cuttings was first performed in February, 2004, in Hinnerup, Denmark, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type through asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new Kalanchoe cultivar ‘KJ 2003 0747’ which in combination distinguish this Kalanchoe as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. large number of petals per flower resulting in a double-type or multi-petalled trait;

2. large size of petals resulting in a large flower;

3. hastate, dissected leaves on young as well as mature leaves;

4. the different yellow and soft-white colors of petals and

5. large number of flowers per plant.

The new Kalanchoe cultivar ‘KJ 2003 0747’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant. The following observations, measurements and values describe the new Kalanchoe cultivar ‘KJ 2003-0747’ as grown in Hinnerup, Denmark under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Plants of ‘KJ 2003 0747’ differ from plants of the parental cultivars in the following characteristics: New Cultivar Female Parent Trait ‘KJ 2003 0761’ ‘KJ 2000 0716’ Height of cultivar About 25 cm About 38 cm Flower Type Double-type Single-type Flower Diameter 18-22 mm 20-25 mm Flower number 250-300 500 Number of Corolla Up to 16 full or  4 Lobes partial petals Corolla Coloration From outer to center of Red-orange, RHS 44B flower: First circle Yellow, RHS 13D Next circle Yellow-orange, RHS 15D Center circle Yellow, RHS 13A Whole flower faints to light yellow-orange, RHS 21B Shape of petal The width of the petal The width of the petal is 7 mm. The length is is 10 mm. The length is 8 mm. The shape ovate 13 mm. The shape is with mucronate apex. obovate with cuspidate tip. Leaf Hastate, dissected Hastate, dissected leaves with a long leaves with a long petiole and long petiole and long lamina. lamina. The leaf The leaf apex is obtuse apex is obtuse and and the base is cunate. the base is cunate. Leaf texture The foliage is glabrous The foliage is glabrous, and shinning both above and more shinning above and below. than below. Male Parent ‘Monroe’ About 24 cm Double-type  16-19 mm 350-400 Up to 27 full or partial petals. Up to 27 full or partial petals The width of the petal is 4 mm. The length is 8 mm. The shape is ovate with cuspidate tip. Obovate leaves with obtuse leaf tips and truncate bases. The leaf margin is undulate. The foliage is glabrous and shinning both above and below.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present Inventors, the most similar in comparison to ‘KJ 2003 0747’ is parental cultivar ‘KJ 2000 0716’. Comparing these two cultivars, the main distinction is the form and the color of the flower, as described in the preceding table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe cultivar ‘KJ 2003-0747’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph shows a top perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘KJ 2003 0747’, 16 weeks after planting of cutting. The second photograph shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of ‘KJ 2003 0747’, 16 weeks after planting of cutting. The third photographic drawing shows the following typical parts of ‘KJ 2003 0747’: A. Inflorescence; B. Flower, just opened; C. Flower, opened one week; D. Color of a faded flower; E. Flower bud from the top; F. Inside a flower; G. Flower bud from the site; H. Petal; I. Sepal; J. Pistil; K. Mature leaf and L. Young leaf.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘KJ 2003 0747’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Kalanchoe cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Hinnerup, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in a greenhouse at 64.4° F. during the day and 68° F. during the night. The cultivar was produced in 13 cm pots. The cuttings were grown in a long day (16 hours light, 8 hours dark) for the first 5 weeks. At week 6 after planting, the cultivar was grown in a short day (10 hours light, 14 hours dark). After 14 weeks the cultivar would be ready for sale. The cultivar was grown under natural light conditions supplemented with 70 μmol/m²/s SON-T light when the natural light was less than 100 μmol/m²/s. At short day, the flower was induced. The reaction time from day of induction to day of first opened flower was 67 days. The peat based soil mix was watered with a solution containing 200 parts per million (ppm) nitrogen, 200 ppm potassium, 40 ppm phosphorous, 200 ppm calcium, 40 ppm magnesium, 60 ppm sulphate, 1 ppm iron, 0.6 ppm manganese, 0.1 ppm copper, 0.1 ppm zink, 0.3 ppm borium, 0.03 ppm molybdenum.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), published 1986, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12 a.m. in a greenhouse in Hinnerup, Denmark. The age of the plant described is 15 weeks (from the time the cutting was planted in growth medium to when the picture was taken).

-   Parentage:     -   -   Male or pollen parent.—K. blossfeldiana cultivar ‘Monroe’             (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,714)         -   Female or seed parent.—K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata             interspecific hybrid cultivar ‘KJ 2000 0716’ (disclosed in             U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/654,571) -   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata interspecific             hybrid cultivar ‘KJ 2003 0747’ (2^(d) generation after K.             blossfeldiana×K. laciniata interspecific hybrid back-crossed             with K. blossfeldiana). -   Propagation: Vegetative terminal cuttings.     -   -   Rooting habit.—The cultivar has numerous, branched, fine and             fibrous roots.         -   Time to initiate roots.—It takes between one and two weeks             to initiate roots.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—It will take three weeks             to produce a well rooted cutting. In winter time, it can             take one week more. -   Plant: If the plants are grown according to the description above it     will perform as described below. Variation from this should be     expected over the course of the year, and if the physical growing     conditions varies from the description.     -   -   Growth habit.—This cultivar is upright and uniform. The             flowers are formed above the leaf canopy, but flowers will             also appear between the leaves. The flowers are assembled in             numerous compound inflorescences.         -   Growth rate.—Ready for sale after 14 weeks.         -   Branching habit and description.—Freely branching; typically             4 to 8 lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal             of the terminal apex) is not mandatory, but will enhance             lateral branching. When grown in 10 cm pots the cultivar is             not pinched. ‘KJ 2003 0747’ grown in 13 cm pot is pinched             over 4 leaf pair. The enhancement of lateral branching in             relation to the season varies.         -   Height at flowering.—The height of the cultivar is about 40             cm, from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant,             depending on growth conditions.         -   Spread/diameter at flowering.—The diameter at flowering is             about 25 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   Appearance.—The cultivar has around 8 stems with none, one             or numerous leaf pairs on the stem. The inflorescence on top             of the flower stem is branched, giving an inverted triangle             with a rounded crown. Each inflorescence has between 40 and             60 flowers.         -   Aspect.—The stem is strong.         -   Length.—The length of the stem is between 15 and 20 cm             depending on growth conditions         -   Texture.—The texture of the stem is glabrous and shinning.         -   Color.—The color of the stem is yellow-green, RHS 146 A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—The foliage is yellow-green with the same             colors of the immature as well as the mature leaf, RHS 146 A             and RHS 147 A. The majority of the leaves are at the base of             the plant, but immature leaves appear also on the flowering             stem.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—The leaves are defined as hastate,             dissected leaves.         -   Apex.—The form of the apex is obtuse.         -   Base.—The form of the base is cunate.         -   Length.—The length of the foliage varies from about 6 cm for             an immature leaf to about 22 cm for a mature leaf.         -   Width.—The width varies from about 3 cm for an immature leaf             to about 13 cm for a mature leaf.         -   Margin.—The foliage has a dentate margin.         -   Texture.—The foliage is glabrous and shinning both above and             below.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: The color of the mature             leaf is dark yellow-green, and is closely described with RHS             147 A. Immature leaf: The immature leaf has the same color             as the mature leaf, dark yellow-green color, described with             RHS 147 A.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: The color of the lower             surface is different from the upper surface, dark             yellow-green color, and is closely described with RHS 146 A.             Immature leaf: The immature leaf has the same color as the             mature leaf, and is defined with dark yellow-green color,             RHS 146 A.         -   Venation color.—There is no visual appearance of veins.             Upper surface: There is no difference between the color of             venation and the rest of the leaf. Lower surface: There is             no difference between the color of venation and the rest of             the leaf.         -   Petiole.—Length: The length of petiole varies between an             immature and mature leaf. The length of an immature leaf             varies between 1.5 and 2 cm. The length of a mature leaf             varies between 5 and 8 cm. Diameter: The diameter of petiole             varies between an immature and mature leaf. The diameter of             an immature leaf is 5 mm. The diameter of a mature leaf is             8 mm. Color: There is no difference between the color of             petiole and the rest of the leaf. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—The flower type is a double-type with             16 to 25 petals per flower. The average number of petals per             flower is 19.         -   Natural flowering season.—The flowering season is year             round, when grown according to description above. When             planting outside the flowering season will be in the summer             (April to October), depending on local climatic conditions.         -   Time to flower.—The time from start of short day treatment             to ₁St flower is about 67 days, approximately 1 week longer             in the winter time.         -   Flowering stem length.—The length of the flowering stem is             between 14 and 20 cm depending of the growth conditions.         -   Post production longevity.—‘KJ 2003 0747’ maintain good leaf             and flower substance for at least 5 weeks under interior             environmental conditions.         -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—‘KJ 2003 0747’             withstands wind, rain and direct sunlight, and can cope with             temperatures between 40 and 95 degree F.         -   Fragrance.—‘KJ 2003 0747’ has no fragrance.         -   Flower size.—The diameter of the flower ranges from 1.8 to             3.0 cm.         -   Overall shape.—The shape is rose-like defined with at least             5 petals per flower.         -   Quantity.—‘KJ 2003 0747’ produces a large number of flowers             ranging from 250 to 300 flowers per plant.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: From the time when the bud is showing             color, the flower will open within 10 days. Color: At the             tip the bud is yellow, RHS 12 A, with a twist of yellow-             orange, RHS 23 B, at the edge. At the base the bud is             yellow-green and can closely be describe with RHS 144 B.             Shape: The shape of the bud is ellipsoidal with the smallest             diameter toward the base. Length: The length of the bud is             about 1.7 cm Diameter: The diameter of the bud is about 8 mm             at the top and about 4 mm at the base.         -   Petal.—Quantity: Typically 16-20 petals fused at the base.             Shape: The shape of petal is oval. Length: The length is             1 cm. Width: The width is 7 mm. Apex: The shape of apex is             mucronate. Margin: The shape of the margin can be described             as entire. Texture: The texture of the petals is soft,             smooth and mat. Color when opening: Upper surface: The upper             surface of the petal has different yellow colors changing             from soft yellow to warm yellow, going from the outer circle             to the center circle of the petals. The first petals are             yellow, RHS 13 D, the next are yellow-orange, RHS 15 D, and             the middle are yellow, RHS 13 A with a touch of 24 C. Lower             surface: As for the lower surface the soft light yellow             colors of the petals also changes going from the outer             circle to the center circle of the petals. The first petals             are yellow, RHS 6 D with a touch of RHS 29 D, the next are             yellow, RHS 10 D and the center is yellow, RHS 4 D. Color             when fully open: Upper surface: At maturity the whole flower             fades to orange, RHS 27 D, with a touch of RHS 29 D in the             center of the flower. Lower surface: At maturity the lower             surface fades to orange RHS 27 D, with a touch of RHS 29 D             at the base of the petals.         -   Sepal.—Quantity: Typically 4 sepals fused at the base             (stem). Shape: The shape of sepal is lineal lanceolate.             Length: The length is about 9 mm. Width: The width is about             2 mm. Apex: The shape of the apex is acute. Margin: The             shape of the margin is entire. Texture: The texture of the             sepals is glabrous and shinning. Color when opening: Upper             surface: The upper surface of the sepal is yellow-green, RHS             144 A. Lower surface: The lower surface of the sepal is             yellow-green, RHS 144 A. Color when fully open: Upper             surface: The upper surface of the sepal is yellow-green, RHS             144 A. Lower surface: The lower surface the sepal is             yellow-green, RHS 144 A.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Every flower has a peduncle with a length             of 4 mm. Color: The peduncle is yellow-green, RHS 146 A.             Texture: The peduncle is glabrous and shinning. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: The flower has between 4 and 7 stamens.             Color: The color of the stamens is greyed-orange, RHS 177B.         -   Anthers.—Number: The number of anthers is between 4 and 7.             Size: The anthers are less than 1 mm in length. Color: The             color of the anthers are yellow-orange, RHS 14 B.         -   Filament color.—The color of the filament is yellow-green,             RHS 145 C.         -   Pollen color.—The color of the pollen is yellow-orange, RHS             17 C.         -   Pollen amount.—A medium amount of pollen with a medium             pollen fertility of about 60% depending on time of year.         -   Pistil.—Number: The number of pistils is four.         -   Stigma.—Shape: The shape of stigma is round. Color: The             color of the stigma is yellow-green, RHS 145 A.         -   Style.—Shape: The shape of the style is thin and             cylindrical. Color: The color of style is yellow-green, RHS             144 A.         -   Ovary.—Color: The color of ovary is yellow-green, RHS 144 B.         -   Seeds.—Number: Between 50 and 60 potential seeds per ovary.             Width: The width of the seeds is less than 0.5 mm. Lenth:             The length of the seeds is less than 1 mm. Shape: The shape             of seeds is ellipsoidal. Color: The color of the potential             seeds is yellow-green, RHS 145 C.         -   Fruit (ovary).—Shape: The shape of the fruit is cylindrical.             Width: The width of the fruit is about 1 mm. Length: The             length of the fruit is about 6 mm. Color: The color of the             fruit is yellow-green, RHS 145 A. -   Disease resistance/susceptibility: No information on disease     resistance or susceptibility is currently available. 

1. A new and distinct K. blossfeldiana×K. laciniata interspecific hybrid cultivar named ‘KJ 2003 0747’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 